Tonga Family Itinerary: 7 Days / 1 Week

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How to Get Around Tonga in One Week

The itinerary below involves both travel over land and water – the joys of travelling in the South Pacific! While we give travel tips throughout this itinerary, here’s a quick rundown of how to get around Tonga with kids in tow.

Road Transport in Tonga

Upon arrival to each island group in Tonga, accommodations typically offer airport transfers or car rental companies can deliver vehicles to the airport. Tongatapu also has taxis. Check out How to Get an Airport Transfer in Tonga for more on the subject.

For travelling on each of the islands, car hire offers the most flexibility and convenience. Get advice on car hire from What You Need to Hire a Car in Tonga. Alternatively, this itinerary is doable in Tongatapu with a mix of taxis (see The Complete Guide to Taxis in Tonga), hiring private drivers (see How to Hire a Driver in Tonga for more advice), as well as taking guided tours such as the 10 Best Sightseeing Tours in Tonga. For Ha’apai, rely on your resorts to get around (some have bicycle hire) or rent a car.

Overwater Transport in Tonga

In this itinerary, we mostly recommend taking domestic flights between the island groups, which is the fastest and most convenient for most travellers – see Domestic Flights in Tonga: A Guide to Interisland Flights. Note that no flights operate on a Sunday and are prone to cancellations due to bad weather; that’s why this itinerary allows for extra days at each destination, as well as leaves a day between domestic and international flights.

For getting to island resorts, resorts offer their own boat transfers, which need to be arranged before arrival. Otherwise, check out A Guide to Boat Transfers & Water Taxis in Tonga for alternatives.

For all of your transport options across the islands, check out our Tonga Transport Guide: 15 Best Ways to Get Around Tonga.

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Day 1 – Arrival in Tonga

Travel time: 15-20 mins airport transfer.

Welcome to Tonga! Your arrival island is Tongatapu where you’ll land at Fua’motu International Airport. To get over your flight and prepare yourself for the week ahead, we recommend spending a couple of nights in one of Tongatapu’s glorious beachfront or treehouse resorts on the east side of the island. Accommodations offer airport transfers, so arrange that before arriving on the island. They’ll be waiting for you at the airport on arrival, ready to whisk you away to paradise.

Family Accommodation on Tongatapu

• Katea Retreat
• Tukulolo Grounds & Treehouses

Learn more about our top picks in the 10 Best Family Accommodations on Tongatapu.

Dining Recommendations

The recommended resorts provide meals/have a restaurant for guests. Alternatively, check out one of Tongatapu’s cultural shows and Tongan buffets, as listed in the 10 Best Cultural Shows in Tonga.

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Day 2 – Explore Tongatapu

Travel time: 1-3 hours drive for sightseeing (see The Driving Times & Distances in Tonga).

Take another day to relax at your resort or do a couple of short sightseeing trips in the area. Swim in the refreshing ‘Anahulu Cave, check out the mysterious Ha’amonga ‘a Maui Trilithon, swim, snorkel and play at Ha’atafu Beach. The list goes on! Either take a self-guided driving tour of Tongatapu (see A Self-Guided Day Trip of Tongatapu) or one of the 5 Best Guided Island Land Tours of Tongatapu.

Things to Do on Tongatapu with Kids

• Explore the amazing ‘Anahulu Cave
• See flying foxes at Kolovai
• Check out the awesome Mapua ‘a Vaea Blowholes
• Build sandcastles at one of Tongatapu’s beaches
• See the hilarious fishing pigs
• Watch a Tongan cultural show and indulge in a Tongan feast
• See the epic Ha’amonga ‘a Maui Trilithon.

Learn more about each experience in our 10 Best Things to Do on Tongatapu with Kids.

Dining Recommendations

If out sightseeing, lunch stops along the road include the Garden Cafe (Vaini) and Siva’s Dream Cafe (Te’ekiu). Otherwise, check out cafes in town listed in the 10 Best Cafes in Nuku’alofa & Tongatapu.

For dinner, your chosen resort provides meals/has a restaurant for guests. And if yesterday didn’t fall onto a buffet night, make tonight the night you do one of the 10 Best Cultural Shows in Tonga.

© Matafonua Lodge - Tonga Ministry of Tourism

Day 3 – Tongatapu to Ha’apai

Travel time: 15-20 mins airport transfer + 50 mins flight + 20 mins – 1 hr Ha’apai airport transfer (see Tonga Travel Times & Distances).

Now that you’re well-rested, catch a flight in a small aircraft to the jewel islands of Ha’apai, Tonga’s central island group. It will feel like a whole slower pace of life here even compared to Tongatapu. The islands are extremely family-friendly with sheltered waters to do a number of watersports – not to mention the beaches! This is where you’ll get your relaxing South Seas holiday experience in Tonga.

Your accommodation will arrange transfers from Ha’apai Salote Pilolevu Airport to your resort. Get settled in and embrace “island time”.

Family Accommodation in Ha’apai

• Matafonua Lodge
• Serenity Beaches Resort
• Kitesurf Tonga
• Diana Beach Resort
• Lindsay Guesthouse
• Sea Change Eco Retreat

Find out more about each accommodation in our 5 Best Family Accommodations in Ha’apai.

Dining Recommendations

Make your first night in Ha’apai effortless by dining at one of the recommended resorts.

(c) Tonga Ministry of Tourism

Days 4 & 5 – Explore Ha’apai

You have the next couple of days to discover what Ha’apai is all about! It’s a spectacular island group for whale watching tours between July and October thanks to its uncrowded waters with very few operators. The waters are sheltered enough for kids to snorkel, kayak and even surf from the beach.

Things to Do in Ha’apai with Kids

• Watch whales on a whale watching tour
• Check out the tropical fish by snorkelling from your resort
• Go on a family mission in a kayak or stand-up paddleboard
• Enjoy a cultural show and umu night
• Explore the islands on horseback
• Head out on a family fishing trip
• Do some reef walking
• Build sandcastles on the beach
• Check out some of the historical sites
• Drink from a coconut.

For more details on each experience, see the 10 Things To Do in Ha’apai with Kids.

Dining Recommendations

For something a little different, it’s well worth making your way to the sandy south of Lifuka Island to Leleno ki Moana (Hihifo) for beachfront dining on impeccably presented plates. Otherwise, more recommendations can be found in The Food Guide to Ha’apai: Places to Eat & Food Tours.

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Day 6 – Ha’apai to Nuku’alofa

Travel time: 20 mins – 1 hr airport transfer + 50 mins flight + 30 mins Nuku’alofa airport transfer.

Although it can be difficult to leave the beautiful islands of Ha’apai behind, we recommend leaving a day earlier than your scheduled outbound flight just in case the flight out of Ha’apai is rescheduled due to unfavourable weather conditions – it happens often! Ha’apai’s resorts will transport your family back to Salote Pilolevu Airport.

Once you arrive back on Tongatapu, accommodation providers can transport you to your next exciting destination in Tonga, Nuku’alofa! Otherwise, taxis and car rentals are available.

Family Accommodation in Nuku’alofa

• Little Italy Hotel & Restaurant
• Tanoa International Dateline Hotel
• JeZAmi Hotel
• Seaview Lodge & Restaurant
• Fale Tonga Guesthouse
• Villa Ishadora
• NOA Guesthouse

See the 10 Best Family Accommodations in Nuku’alofa for more details.

Dining Recommendations

Probably the most out-of-place restaurant in the islands of the South Pacific, Little Italy Restaurant (Vuna Road – west side of the palace) transports you to Europe with its damn-good family-friendly pizzas. A little further along from Little Italy, Seaview Lodge & Restaurant (Vuna Road) offers an upmarket dining experience overlooking the waterfront. For more recommendations, check out the 20 Best Restaurants in Nuku’alofa.

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Day 7 – Explore Nuku’alofa + Departure Day

Travel time: 30 mins airport transfer.

It’s your final day in The Kingdom so make the most of it with some sightseeing or one of the 10 Best Things to Do in Nuku’alofa with Kids, especially if you are taking one of the evening flights out of Tonga. Otherwise, treat yourself to an indulgent breakfast at the Friends Cafe, Cafe Escape or Coffee Post before getting a taxi to Fua’amotu International Airport for the final time on your family getaway.

Family Activities in Nuku’alofa

• Learn about Tongan traditions at Ancient Tonga
• Go on a snorkelling excursion or island day trip to swim with coral and tropical fish
• Shop for Tongan presents at the Talamahu Market
• See the whales between July and October
• Check out interesting sights, like the Royal Palace, Royal Tombs and more
• Play and have a picnic at Fa’onelua or Popua Park
• Have a coffee while the kids play at the playground at Tupu’Anga Cafe
• Make your own tapa notebook, angel or doll at Tina’s Workshop.

For more information on each activity, take a look at the 10 Things to Do in Nuku’alofa with Kids.

Departure

Your accommodation should be able to transfer you to Fua’amotu Airport from Nuku’alofa. Otherwise, book a taxi from the information centre or the taxi ranks in town.

Remember to arrive at the airport a couple of hours before your scheduled departure so that you have enough time to check in, go through security and browse the small selection of retail offerings. For anything else you need to know about leaving Tonga, it’s all listed in our guide, Leaving Tonga: Departure Tips & Checklist.

And it’s “Nofo ā” (goodbye) to Tonga!